Articles of Jewelry for Holding and Displaying a Carried Object

ABSTRACT

An article of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object includes a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening. The bore has at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity for display via the entrance opening.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/981,480, filed Apr. 18, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to articles of jewelry, and in particular to articles of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object, such as a flower clipping.

BACKGROUND

Cut flowers are traditionally worn for formal occasions in the form of boutineers for men and corsages for women. The cut flower stem is typically inserted into a cone shaped holder, optionally after being secured with floral wire and/or floral tape, and pinned to the wearer's clothing. Alternatively, the cut flower stem may be wrapped with floral tape and/or wire without using a holder, and the floral tape around the stem may be pinned to the wearer's clothing or a bracelet to be worn around the wearer's wrist. Boutineers and corsages are typically prepared by professional florists for a single use.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, an article of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object includes a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening. The bore has at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity for display via the entrance opening.

In some embodiments, the at least one retention feature of the bore comprises a curvilinear shape of the bore that is configured to bind the carried object in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore. The jewelry body may comprise a tubular portion having the bore defined therein. The curvilinear shape of the bore may substantially correspond to a shape of the tubular portion. The tubular portion may be arcuately shaped to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage. The tubular portion may be shaped and sized as a finger ring, and the through passage may be shaped and sized to receive a wearer's finger. The tubular portion may be shaped and sized as a bracelet, pendant, boutineer holder, brooch and/or hair ring. The carried object may include a flower clipping having a stem and a flower on an end of the stem such that, during use, the stem is retained in the bore and the flower is positioned outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening.

In some embodiments, the article includes an integral supplemental decorative portion mounted on the jewelry body outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening. The integral supplemental decorative portion may include a flower petal sculpture.

In some embodiments, the at least one retention feature of the bore consists essentially of a curvilinear shape of the bore that is configured to bind the carried object in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore.

In some embodiments, the bore has a diameter of about 3 mm to about 6 mm.

In some embodiments, a ring assembly is configured to be worn on a finger. The ring assembly includes a tubular ring body having defined therein an entrance opening and an extended bore generally following the tubular ring body. The bore terminates with the entrance opening configured to receive a finger of a wearer. The bore has at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity. A carried object comprising a flower clipping having a stem is positioned and retained in the bore and a flower that is displayed is positioned adjacent the entrance opening.

In some embodiments, a method for carrying a carried object in an article of jewelry is provided. The article of jewelry includes a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening. The bore has at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity. The method includes positioning a carried object in the bore such that the bore secures and/or resists removal of the carried object.

In some embodiments, the carried object comprises a flower clipping having a stem and a flower on an end of the stem, and positioning a carried object in the bore comprises positioning the stem in the bore such that the flower is positioned outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening.

In some embodiments, the jewelry body comprises a tubular portion having the bore defined therein such that the curvilinear shape of the bore substantially corresponds to a shape of the tubular portion, and the tubular portion is arcuately shaped to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage that is shaped and sized as a finger ring, and the through passage is shaped and sized to receive a wearer's finger. The method further includes positioning the tubular portion on a wearer's finger as a finger ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an article of jewelry formed as a ring according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ring of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 with a cut flower stem partially inserted into the bore of the ring.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 with the cut flower stem fully inserted in the bore of the ring.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ring and flower assembly of FIG. 7 in use and worn on a wearer's finger.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the ring and flower assembly of FIG. 7 in use and worn on a wearer's finger.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 1 shown as a ring and flower assembly.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracelet with a curvilinear bore for a carried object according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the bracelet of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the bracelet of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the bracelet of FIG. 9 shown as a bracelet and flower assembly.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a boutineer pin with a curvilinear bore for a carried object according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the boutineer pin of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the boutineer pin of FIG. 13 shown as a pin and flower assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting,” etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on,” “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of “over” and “under.” The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “vertical,” “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a “first” element discussed below could also be termed a “second” element without departing from the teachings of the present invention. The sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims or figures unless specifically indicated otherwise.

The present invention is directed to an article of jewelry configured to be worn on a subject's (e.g., person's) body while simultaneously holding and displaying a decorative supplemental or carried object. In particular embodiments, the decorative carried object is a flower and, in some embodiments, is a live, fresh, or recently cut plant or plant clipping. Artificial flowers and other suitable carried objects may also be used. In particular, in some embodiments, the carried object is a cut flower and an elongate adjoining stem portion (collectively, a flower clipping).

In general, the article of jewelry includes a body having defined therein an entrance opening and an extended cavity, passage or bore communicating or terminating with the entrance opening. In use, the carried object is inserted into the bore such that a decorative portion thereof remains exposed at or beyond the entrance opening. In some embodiments, a stem of a flower clipping is inserted into the bore such that the stem is retained in the bore and the flower portion is retained outside the entrance opening for display.

The bore may be configured and/or provided with retention features to secure or resist removal of the carried object, (e.g., flower clipping). In some embodiments, the article of jewelry is configured such that the intended carried object, such as a flower clipping, will not fall out of the bore in any orientation of the article of jewelry. In some embodiments, the bore has a non-linear, curvilinear, arcuate, angled or curved shape that tends to bind (e.g., by friction and/or interlock) the carried object (e.g., the flower clipping stem portion) in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore.

In some embodiments, the body consists of or includes a tubular portion having the bore defined therein. In some embodiments, the shape of the bore substantially follows or corresponds to the shape of the tubular portion. In some embodiments, the tubular portion is arcuately shaped, such as generally in the shape of an ellipse, circle, spiral or helix to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage. In some such embodiments, the tubular portion is shaped and sized as a finger ring and the through passage is sized to closely receive a wearer's finger. In other embodiments, the tubular portion is sized and shaped to be worn as a bracelet, pendent, hair ring, or other suitable article of jewelry. Although embodiments according to the present invention are described herein with respect to a carried object such as a flower clipping, it should be understood that other objects, particularly objects having an elongated portion that may be retained in the bore, may also be used. The elongated portion of the carried object may be sufficiently compliant such that the elongated portion bends or curves along the shape of the bore while also having a stiffness (e.g., a sufficiently high modulus of elasticity) to be secured in the bore.

The article of jewelry may further include an integral supplemental decorative portion. For example, a decorative feature such as a flower petal sculpture may be provided adjacent or around the entrance opening.

With reference to FIGS. 1-8, a ring 100 according to embodiments of the invention is shown therein. The ring 100 is a finger ring that acts as a vase or holder. The ring 100 is configured and sized to encircle a wearer's finger and hold an object (such as a flower clipping PC) in the ring 100 (FIGS. 6-7). The ring 100 includes an annular body or ring portion 110 and an integral flower petal sculpture or decorative portion 130. The ring 100, including the body or ring portion 110 and the decorative portion 130, may be formed as a single unitary member and/or may be monolithic molded.

The ring portion 110 has an outer surface 111 and an inner surface 112 defining a tubular passage or arcuate opening 114 for receiving a finger F therethrough. When worn, the ring portion 110 encircles or surrounds the finger F (FIGS. 6-7).

The ring portion 110 is itself tubular or hollow. More particularly, a cavity or holding bore 120 (FIGS. 5 and 8) is defined in the ring portion 110 and terminates at an entrance opening 122 in the decorative portion 130. The bore 120 may extend fully through the ring portion to the end 116 furthest from the opening 122, or may terminate a substantial distance from the end 116 so that a portion of the ring portion 110 (e.g., the second half, the half furthest away from the opening 122) is solid and non-tubular. According to some embodiments, the bore 120 has a length L1 (nonlinear, following the path of the bore 120) in the range of from about 4 to 8 cm. As illustrated, the curvilinear shape of the bore 120 generally corresponds to the shape of the ring portion 110.

A carried object such as the flower clipping PC can be inserted into the bore 120 through the opening 122 (FIGS. 4-7). In particular, an elongate stem portion PS of the flower clipping PC is inserted into the bore 120 through the opening 122 such that an attached flower portion PF rests at or adjacent the opening 122.

The bore 120 has at least one retention feature for retaining the carried object therein. As illustrated, the curvilinear shape of the bore 120 acts as a retention feature. The bore 120 is elongate, curvilinear or non-linear and, in the illustrated embodiment, generally follows the curvature of the ring portion 110. The loop of the non-linear bore 110 may act as a retention mechanism securing the stem portion PS (or other inserted portion) into the bore 120. The stem portion PS may be seated snugly in the non-linear bore 120. In some embodiments, the insertion of the stem portion PS bends the stem portion PS from its initial or relaxed configuration so that the stem portion PS is resiliently deflected. The stem portion PS may apply a radially outwardly directed load that retains the stem portion PS in the bore 120.

The ring 100 can be configured such that, in use, the flower clipping PC (or other intended and inserted carried object) will remain secured within the bore 120 and not fall out of the ring 100 regardless of how the ring 100 is oriented with respect to vertical (i.e., will not fall out under force of gravity alone). The flower clipping PC may be secured by the engagement between the stem portion PS and the bore wall 124 (FIG. 8), contortion of the stem portion PS or interlock with the stem portion PS resulting from the curvilinear or non-linear path of the bore 120, and/or other integral retention features. The bore wall 124 may be a smooth surface to facilitate insertion of the stem portion PS. In some embodiments, the curvilinear shape of the bore 120 is sufficient to retain the carried object without necessarily requiring additional retention features; however, other retention features may be used, such as clips, adhesives, friction surfaces (e.g., rough or grooved surfaces of the bore wall 124), and the like.

The decorative portion 120 can have any decorative design or portion 130 (the decorative portion 130 in FIGS. 1-8 is a design shaped like Tiger Lily petals) around the opening 122 or the ring portion 110 can be provided without a decorative portion 130.

Although some embodiments are described herein with respect to the ring 100, other articles of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object may be provided, including boutineer holders, brooches, bracelets, pins and the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, a bracelet 200 that acts as a vase or holder of a carried object is shown. The bracelet 200 is configured and sized to encircle a wearer's arm and hold an object in the bracelet 200 (FIGS. 6-7). The bracelet 200 includes an annular body or, bracelet portion 210 and an integral decorative portion 230. The bracelet portion 210 has an outer surface 211 and an inner surface 212 defining a tubular passage or opening 214 for receiving an arm therethrough. When worn, the bracelet portion 210 encircles or surrounds the arm or wrist.

The bracelet portion 210 includes a portion that is tubular or hollow such that a cavity or holding bore 220 (FIG. 11) is defined in the bracelet portion 210 and terminates at an entrance opening 222 in the decorative portion 230. As shown, the bore 220 terminates a substantial distance from an end 216 of the bracelet portion 210 so that a portion of the bracelet portion 210 (e.g., the second half, the half furthest away from the opening 222) is solid and non-tubular; however, the bore 220 may extend all the way to the end 216. According to some embodiments, the bore 220 has a length L2 (nonlinear, following the path of the bore 220) in the range of from about 3 to 8 inches, A carried object such as the flower clipping PC can be inserted into the bore 220 through the opening 222 (FIG. 12).

As illustrated in FIGS. 13-15, a pin 300 that acts as a vase or holder of a carried object is shown. The pin 300 includes a body or pin portion 310 with a curvilinear portion 310A and a linear portion 310B. The pin 300 also includes an integral decorative portion 330. The pin portion 310 may be fixed to the wearer's clothing, for example, by a pin or magnetic clasp on the back portion (not shown).

The pin portion 310 includes a cavity or holding bore 320 (FIG. 14) that is defined in the pin portion 310 and terminates at an entrance opening 322 in the decorative portion 330. A carried object such as the flower clipping PC can be inserted into the bore 320 through the opening 322 (FIG. 15).

The articles of jewelry described herein, including the ring 100, bracelet 200 and pin 300, can be reusable. Methods of using this article of jewelry may include cutting a live flower clipping PC (or an artificial flower or other object) and inserting it into the bore 122 of the ring 100 as described above. The flower clipping PC can be removed and another flower clipping (or object) can be inserted into the ring 100 for as many times as the user likes. Additional materials, such as floral tape or wire, may not be required. Analogous methods may be used with respect to the bores 222, 322 of the bracelet 200 or pin 322 or other articles of jewelry.

Any suitable method of manufacturing may be used. In some embodiments, the articles of jewelry described herein may be formed by three-dimensional printing (additive manufacturing), lost-wax or injection molding to achieve a desired shape and/or may be formed of a single unitary member. The articles of jewelry can be made of any suitable material, which may include a polymeric material or a metal, such as silver, gold, white bronze and/or alloys thereof. The articles of jewelry can also be rhodium plated to avoid tarnish.

The non-linear holding bore (such as bores 120, 220, 320) may have a non-smooth and/or textured surface to help in the retention of the inserted object. The non-linear bore could have ridges or bars that help secure an inserted object. These optional features could be used individually or in combination with each other. The width of the holding bore may be shaped and sized based on the configuration of the article of jewelry and/or the carried object. For example, the bore 120 in the ring 100 can have a diameter of about 4 mm, or between 3 and 6 mm. The bore size in other articles may be similar to that of the ring 100, or the bore may be sized differently to account for different configurations. The bore 220 of the bracelet 200 may be about 8-13 mm or 12 mm, and the bore 322 of the pin 322 may be between about 3 and 9 mm. In some embodiments, the holding bore has a generally uniform diameter; however, a tapering diameter with the diameter being wider at the opening of the bore may also be used. In some embodiments, the bore of a ring/bracelet forms a loop extending at least 130 degrees or more around the finger or wrist.

In some embodiments, a moisture retention material, such as a moisture retaining gel, may be inserted in the bore to increase the longevity of a cut flower.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few example embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

1. An article of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object, the article comprising: a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening, the bore having at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity for display via the entrance opening.
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the at least one retention feature of the bore comprises a curvilinear shape of the bore that is configured to bind the carried object in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore.
 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the jewelry body comprises a tubular portion having the bore defined therein.
 4. The article of claim 3, wherein the curvilinear shape of the bore substantially corresponds to a shape of the tubular portion.
 5. The article of claim 4, wherein the tubular portion is arcuately shaped to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage.
 6. The article of claim 5, wherein the tubular portion is shaped and sized as a finger ring, and the through passage is shaped and sized to receive a wearer's finger.
 7. The article of claim 4, wherein the tubular portion is shaped and sized as a bracelet, pendant, boutineer holder, brooch and/or hair ring.
 8. The article of claim 1, wherein the carried object comprises a flower clipping having a stem and a flower on an end of the stem such that, during use, the stem is retained in the bore and the flower is positioned outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening.
 9. The article of claim 1, further comprising an integral supplemental decorative portion mounted on the jewelry body outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening.
 10. The article of claim 9, wherein the integral supplemental decorative portion comprises a flower petal sculpture.
 11. The ring of claim 1, wherein the at least one retention feature of the bore consists essentially of a curvilinear shape of the bore that is configured to bind the carried object in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore.
 12. The ring of claim 1, wherein the bore has a diameter of about 2 mm to about 10 mm.
 13. A ring assembly configured to be worn on a finger, the ring assembly comprising: a tubular ring body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore generally following the tubular ring body, the bore terminating with the entrance opening configured to receive a finger of a wearer, the bore having at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity; and a carried object comprising a flower clipping having a stem that is positioned and retained in the bore and a flower that is displayed adjacent the entrance opening.
 14. A method for carrying a carried object in an article of jewelry, the article of jewelry comprising a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening, the bore having at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity, the method comprising: positioning a carried object in the bore such that the bore secures and/or resists removal of the carried object.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the carried object comprises a flower clipping having a stem and a flower on an end of the stem, wherein positioning a carried object in the bore comprises positioning the stem in the bore such that the flower is positioned outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the jewelry body comprises a tubular portion having the bore defined therein such that the curvilinear shape of the bore substantially corresponds to a shape of the tubular portion, and the tubular portion is arcuately shaped to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage that is shaped and sized as a finger ring, and the through passage is shaped and sized to receive a wearer's finger, the method further comprising: positioning the tubular portion on a wearer's finger as a finger ring.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the jewelry body comprises a bracelet, pendent, boutineer holder, brooch and/or hair ring. 